Manchester United keen to rescue Rodriguez from Monaco

James Rodriguez has scored what is arguably the goal of the tournament against Uruguay for Colombia and for some he is the outstanding player of the 2014 World Cup. According to the rumour mill the player who could have been signed to United as a teenager for £5m will have a transfer figure of epic Bale-like proportions placed upon him as a valuation to lure him away from Monaco. Those sorts of figures are reserved for mega-rich Real Madrid, a team that James would love to engineer a move to as stated in an interview for a Spanish radio station: “I dream of playing in Spain. I prefer Real Madrid.”

The 22-year-old has a lot of football ahead of him and may yet steer a course away from Monaco where he has made 34 appearances and scored nine goals. The player moved from Porto in the 2013 season for a reported 45 million Euros, a figure that could be dwarfed just a year on. Reports suggest that while van Gaal would want the player that he may have to make do with less lofty numbers.

The attacking midfielder who can also play on the wings was at Porto between 2010-2013, winning the Primeira Liga title every year he was at the club where he made a total of 105 appearances, scoring 32 times and making 21 assists. James Rodriguez is considered a very versatile, well-balanced player able to play right across the midfield with great skill and speed. Rodriguez has made 26 international appearances for Colombia, scoring ten goals since 2011.